NFL Week 3 Picks Against The Spread 2018: Predictions ATS, Updated Odds For Every Game

If the underdogs perform as well as they did in Week 2, the upcoming NFL schedule will feature plenty of upsets. Underdogs covered the spread in 10 of last week’s 16 games, and several teams getting points have a real chance to win outright in Week 3.

Below are picks against the spread for every game in Week 3 of the 2018 season, as well as updated betting odds at Las Vegas and online sportsbooks. Betting lines and trends are courtesy of OddsShark.

New York Jets (+3) at Cleveland Browns

As close as the Browns came to defeating two good teams to start the year, they are still 1-35-1 in their last 37 games. Cleveland has struggled on offense, and it’ll be difficult for them to win by more than a field goal against a team that’s allowed just 37 points in two games. Sam Darnold was impressive when he made his NFL debut on the road in primetime. Laying a field goal with a Browns’ team that keeps finding ways to not win doesn’t seem like the smartest idea.

Prediction ATS: New York

Buffalo Bills (+17) at Minnesota Vikings

You can’t lay 17 points, even against this Bills’ team. Buffalo will fall behind early and likely put up points in garbage time with a good chance to cover the spread in the fourth quarter. The Bills only lost by 11 points in Week 2 to the Chargers. Sunday’s game could have a similar feel in which the final score doesn’t indicate just how much Buffalo was dominated.

Prediction ATS: Buffalo

New York Giants (+6) at Houston Texans

J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus haven’t exactly wreaked the havoc up front that Texans’ fans were hoping they would to start the year. That should change against New York’s offensive line, and getting Jadeveon Clowney back on the field would make life even more difficult for Eli Manning. Deshaun Watson played better in Week 2 after it looked like maybe he was still getting back to his old self following last year’s ACL tear. Unless Odell Beckham Jr. or Saquon Barkley can rip off one or two big plays for scores, the Giants are looking at a 0-3 start.

Prediction ATS: Houston

San Francisco 49ers (+6.5) at Kansas City Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes is the real deal. Even if the quarterback doesn’t win a third straight AFC Offensive Player of the Week award, he should put up big numbers in his first home game. Mahomes and Kansas City’s offense have been unstoppable, but the defense hasn’t allowed the Chiefs to win by more than 10 points. Look for Jimmy Garoppolo and Mahomes to go toe-to-toe in a shootout that’s not decided until the final minutes.

Prediction ATS: San Francisco

New Orleans Saints (+3) at Atlanta Falcons

Just because they struggled over the first two weeks, it’s not time to jump off the Saints’ bandwagon. New Orleans traditionally plays poorly in Week 1 and Week 2, and they could come out firing in Atlanta. The Falcons’ red-zone issues aren’t fixed because of one win. The team will still be missing multiple Pro Bowlers on defense against Drew Brees and an offense that can put up 40 points on any given Sunday. The Saints are 13-5-1 against the spread in their last 19 road games.

Prediction ATS: New Orleans

Green Bay (-3) at Washington Redskins

This isn’t going to be an easy matchup for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Washington’s defense has played well thus far, ranking third in yards allowed per play and limiting Andrew Luck to a 77.2 passer rating last week. Green Bay is 23rd in opponents’ yards per play, and they could be in trouble against a quarterback in Alex Smith that makes very few mistakes.

Prediction ATS: Washington

Indianapolis Colts (+6.5) at Philadelphia Eagles

It might be smart to grab the points because of the injury questions that surround Philadelphia. Left tackle Jason Peters is expected to play, though he did leave Sunday’s game with a quad injury, and running back Jay Ajayi is day-to-day. Wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Mike Wallace won’t play, and Carson Wentz could use all the help he can get in his first game back from his ACL tear. It’s probably too much to ask for the quarterback to look like his old self right away. That could be enough for Andrew Luck and the Colts to keep this game within a touchdown.

Prediction ATS: Indianapolis

Oakland Raiders (+3) at Miami Dolphins

Miami is the better team, so the three-point line indicating that the Dolphins and Raiders are even on a neutral field doesn’t make much sense. Ryan Tannehill and Adam Gase have gone 9-1 in their last 10 games together, and the quarterback has looked good in his first two games back since tearing his ACL. Oakland ranks 27th in opponents’ yards per play, and they have covered the spread twice in their last eight road games.

Prediction ATS: Miami

Denver Broncos (+5) at Baltimore Ravens

The Broncos haven’t been impressive this season, narrowly beating two mediocre teams at home. Case Keenum has looked like the quarterback we were accustomed to seeing before 2017, and he could be in for a long day in Baltimore. Denver’s defense has been an early disappointment, as well, surrendering a 108.9 passer rating. This could be one of Joe Flacco’s better performances. The Broncos are 1-9 against the spread in their last 10 road games.

Prediction ATS: Baltimore

Cincinnati Bengals (+3) at Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati’s 2-0 start is no fluke. The combination of Marvin Lewis, Andy Dalton and A.J. Green has produced plenty of winning seasons in the past. The offense is more dangerous than it has been in a few years with a healthy Tyler Eifert. There’s talent all over the defense with Geno Atkins and Carl Lawson up front, linebacker Nick Vigil tied for fifth in the NFL in tackles and the secondary playing fairly well. The Bengals have a real chance to steal a win against the Panthers, who have already lost Greg Olsen and their starting tackles for several weeks.

Prediction ATS: Cincinnati

Los Angeles Chargers (+7) at Los Angeles Rams

The Chargers are too good to be getting a touchdown when they don’t have to travel to another city. They probably won’t have much trouble scoring since they rank third in yards per play, which is two spots ahead of the Rams. The Chargers are 10-4 in their last 14 games against the spread and 4-1 against the spread in their last five road games. Maybe a Philip Rivers interception or a poor coaching decision will cost L.A. the game, but this contest should be competitive the whole way.

Prediction ATS: Los Angeles Chargers

Dallas Cowboys (+1) at Seattle Seahawks

Seattle had a chance to either tie or take the lead late in both of their first two games before coming up short on the road. Let’s see what happens when they return to the stadium that provides one of the biggest home-field advantages in the NFL. Twenty-eight quarterbacks have thrown for more yards than Dak Prescott, and he did very little in last week’s victory outside of a 64-yard touchdown pass on the first drive. The Cowboys will be lucky to score 20 points on the road in Week 3.

Prediction ATS: Seattle

Chicago Bears (-6) at Arizona Cardinals

The Bears shouldn’t be laying nearly a touchdown on the road with questions still looming on offense, specifically at quarterback. Mitchell Trubisky has made some poor decisions in the first two weeks, posting a meager 371 yards passing and an 80.0 passer rating. Chicago’s offense has been responsible for 23 points over the last six quarters. Look for the Bears to play a low-scoring affair against an Arizona defense that is bound to improve upon a brutal start.

Prediction ATS: Arizona

New England Patriots (-6.5) at Detroit Lions

Maybe this point spread is an overreaction to Detroit’s 0-2 start, but it’d be tough to go against New England this week. Coming off a bad loss against one of the AFC’s best teams, you’d expect Tom Brady and the Patriots to come out firing. The Lions have surrendered as many points as anyone on the young season. The Patriots just added Josh Gordon, and cornerback Darius Slay might be forced to sit for Detroit because of a concussion. New England hasn’t lost consecutive games in almost three years, and Week 2 was more about the Jaguars than the Patriots. New England is 14-4 against the spread in their last 18 road games.

Prediction ATS: New England

Pittsburgh Steelers (-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Forget about the fact that Le’Veon Bell is still holding out, Antonio Brown doesn’t seem happy and Pittsburgh doesn’t have a win. Is Ryan Fitzpatrick really going to look like the NFL MVP for a third straight game? That’s a bet worth taking, especially when he’ll have to match Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers’ still-explosive offense. As long as Brown suits up Sunday, Pittsburgh will put up points. It should be enough to defeat a Bucs’ team that’s played above their heads for two consecutive weeks.

Prediction ATS: Pittsburgh

Tennessee Titans (+9.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars

The Titans defeated the Jaguars twice last year, and they could play them tough Sunday, even without Marcus Mariota. Blake Bortles and Jacksonville's offense won't be as effective as it was a week ago.

Prediction ATS: Tennessee

Season Record: 13-18-1